The American Library in Paris

Teen Night: The Writers Room (ages 12–18)
2025-03-28 19:00 - 21:00 (Europe/Paris) | The American Library in Paris
Explore creative and personal writing beyond the classroom with us! Discover your personal writing voice beyond the classroom. Work together to create creative writing prompts and develop your own writing style. These after-hours events are the cornerstone of teen programming. These participatory programs may focus on writing, art, film or other topics, but always incorporate time for teens to meet and interact. Light snacks are provided. This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Nicole Hoffman with the support of Library staff.
Light snacks and drinks will be provided by the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Flash Fiction with Jane Mobille (ages 12–18)
2025-04-04 19:00 - 21:00
Flash fiction is a complete story, written in as little as six and no more than 1000 words. It contains the four elements of short story—protagonist, conflict, complication and resolution—but sometimes they remain unwritten and are just implied. Using Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street for inspiration, join us as we experiment with flash fiction in a creative setting where you can get to know other members of the community. Light refreshments will be provided!
About Jane Mobille: Memoir writer Jane Mobille is also a Professional Certified Coach with extensive experience coaching teens and young adults. Jane uses the tools of writing and coaching to inspire freedom and confidence in young writers as they learn to put their authenticity or “heart” on paper. Editor of the quarterly AAWE News magazine in Paris, Jane has contributed a number of “Teen Coach” articles to online magazine INSPIRELLE. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

U.S. University Admissions: What to Do When with Kazz Regelman (ages 14+)
2025-04-06 15:00 - 16:30
This information-packed workshop will include: a timeline (starting from as early as 8th/9th grade or as late as 11th grade); how expectations of US and Canadian universities critically differ from European schools; general essay advice; emphasis on extracurricular activities and passion projects for elite admissions; special points of interest and importance for French residents; merit scholarships vs. financial aid; and more.
About Kazz Regelman: Kazz Regelman is a private college counselor who has coached students into acceptances at a long list of institutions, including Stanford, Harvard, Dartmouth, Duke, Johns Hopkins, USC, Cornell, Bowdoin, UChicago, Carnegie Mellon, Barnard, UCLA and other Ivy League, elite, and—most importantly— great-fit colleges. Her students frequently receive merit scholarships based on school selection, strategy, and essays. She is a graduate of Princeton, a Fulbright scholar, National Merit winner, and widely published journalist who founded GetIntoSchools.com with the aim of making the college admissions process both significantly less stressful and more successful. She is bilingual, has lived in Paris for many years, and raised her own children in French and international schools, but she’s also a long-time San Franciscan and deeply knowledgeable about the unique UC application process. Her philosophy is for students to end up at schools that are a great fit for their personality, interests, and goals—schools where they will thrive. Important information: This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per person for non-members, and advance registration is required. All Library users are expected to familiarize themselves with the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

2025 Read-A-Thon Kick-Off Party (all ages)
2025-04-12 14:00 - 15:00
The American Library in Paris and Message Paris are organizing a Read-A-Thon to encourage vacation reading, and to raise funds for the Library! This kick-off event is open to children and teens who are members of Message Paris or The American Library in Paris. Join us for the kick-off to play trivia, games, and more, then find out how to participate in the Read-A-Thon!

WHY READ FOR THE AMERICAN LIBRARY IN PARIS?
Over a 1-week period, participants are encouraged to read as much as possible and collect donations based on the number of minutes that they read! Donations will be used to support the American Library in Paris, a non-profit English language Library founded in 1920, and the largest English-language lending library on the European continent! It is a place where people gather to explore ideas, build community and connect with other English speakers. As a non-profit, we count on your donations to continue to provide programs, books and services for the English-language community. All participants who turn in a completed Read-A-Thon pack and a donation from at least one sponsor will be entered into a prize drawing. Prizes will be awarded for top readers in each of the following categories: ages 0–3, ages 4–8, ages 9–12, and ages 12–18.

ABOUT MESSAGE PARIS:
Message Paris is the largest association for English-speaking parents and parents-to-be in France! It is an entirely volunteer-run, independent, non-profit association that provides a social and support network to expectant women, new mothers and fathers, and parents of children of all ages. Message Paris is proud to bring you this Read-A-Thon in conjunction with the American Library in Paris! Learn more at www.messageparis.org.

How to participate:

Register for the 2025 Read-A-Thon! Register using the link below.

Download your Read-A-Thon materials. Download your reading log once it is sent to the email address provided.
Find sponsors (like family and friends) who will pledge (or promise!) a certain amount of money for every reading challenge that you complete (for example: 1€ per hour).
Write your sponsors on your pledge sheet. Add each sponsor’s name, address, and pledge amount to your pledge sheet.
Read! Keep a log of your reading during the week of 21–27 April! The more you read the more you raise for the Library!
Collect your pledges.
Tell your friends and family how much you read, and collect your pledges (promised donations).
Submit your pledge sheet at the Library
Turn in donations online or in-person at the Library
Attend our finale celebration to find out the top readers, and raffle winners, to meet other bookworms, and collect your certificate of participation!

Important information: This event is for Library members and members of Message Paris, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Comedy Films (ages 12–18)
2025-04-18 19:00 - 21:00
What qualifies as a comedy movie? What makes people laugh? Share your take on these questions and more, then enjoy a film during this event for teens. Vote on the film you’d like to watch when you register for this event. Participate in movie trivia and a game at the start of the evening before we settle in with popcorn and enjoy a screening in the Library’s comfortable reading room. We’ll discuss the film as a group at the end of the night. This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services staff with the help of Library volunteers.
Drinks and light snacks will be provided, as well as lots of popcorn. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Capture the Flag (ages 12–18)
2025-05-02 19:00 - 21:00
Join us for a game of capture the flag on the Champ de Mars (weather permitting). We’ll meet at the Library to divide into teams and go over the rules of the game, then we’ll set out as a group to the Champ de Mars to play the game outdoors. We’ll be playing in two teams. Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads, and Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Nicole Hoffman will each lead a team.
In the case of light rain, we’ll go ahead and play. In the event of heavy rain or storms, we’ll move the event inside. You are welcome to call the Children’s and Teens’ Services Desk directly for an update before the event. Parents/guardians can pick up participating teens at the Library at 21h00 Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Collaborative Collage (ages 12–18)
2025-05-17 16:00 - 17:00
Join Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Nicole Hoffman as she guides you in the creation of a joint art piece for display. Supplies will be provided, as well as light snacks.
Important information: This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per person for non-members, and advance registration is required. All Library users are expected to familiarize themselves with the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Adventure Quest Role Play (ages 12–18)
2025-05-23 19:00 - 21:00
Interested in tabletop role-playing games? Join us for a Friday night campaign TTRPG! We’ll have characters, mini-figures, dice, and an awesome story for you! The game offered during this event will be a short one-off, with no experience needed, and all materials will be provided. This event will be hosted by Julia Paré, the Princeton Social Impact Fellow and Children’s and Teens’ Services staff with the help of Library volunteers.
Drinks and light snacks will be provided, as well as lots of popcorn. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Free Write: A Creative Session (ages 12–18)
2025-05-31 14:00 - 15:30
Meet other writers in the community as you explore ways to jump start your creative writing. Begin a short story during this session, or bring in a project you are working on. There will be time to write and dedicated time to share and get feedback.
Library volunteer and Teen Writing Group member Ludivine Sarazin will facilitate this workshop. Teens interested in the Library’s Teen Writing Group are encouraged to attend this session, as this workshop will follow a similar format.
Light snacks and drinks will be provided. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Writing from Life with Charlene Allen (ages 12–18)
2025-06-06 19:00 - 21:00
Interested in trying your hand at creative writing? Do you need tips to take your stories to the next level? Experienced teen writers and newcomers are all welcome to join this workshop with author Charlene Allen on how you can draw inspiration from your life to create compelling stories.
Drinks and light snacks will be provided by the Library.
About Charlene Allen: Charlene Allen loves writing, reading, and talking about books with writers and readers of all ages. Her work in the world includes supporting community organizations to fight injustice, especially the beast called mass incarceration. Charlene’s activism, as well as her adventures across the globe, inform her writing. She received her MFA from the New School, her JD from Northeastern University, and her BA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Charlene is the author of Play the Game, called, “Fast-paced, insightful, and highly relevant,” by Angela Y. Davis. Charlene’s newest book, My Fairy God Somebody, is a one-book Baltimore city-wide selection and a junior library guild gold standard book. Visit Charlene at www.charleneallen.com Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Finding the Best Fit University for You (with Ashley Miller) (ages 12–18)
2025-06-14 16:00 - 17:30
What’s your learning style? Are you a city mouse or a country mouse? How can you maximize your potential for growth when you head off to university? You should have a “dream,” a “reach,” a “target,” and a “likely” school on your list as you plan for university. What do those terms mean, and which schools would fit those descriptions for you individually?
One-on-one coaching on career exploration and college list building will be available for those who attend this presentation.
About Ashley Miller: Ashley Miller started her love affair with both the English Language and teaching at Bucknell University. After a brief stint in show biz as the talent assistant for actor David Morse, her career as a teacher began, with her time in the DC Public School system earning her a “teacher of the year” nomination. Prior to leaving the United States, she was the Education Enrichment Specialist at Project H.O.M.E in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In France, Ashley has been a member of the fac at both CentraleSupelec and Universite de Lorraine (lectrice), a board member of the American Women’s Group of Paris, a volunteer at Caritas Moselle and Enfants du Monde, and a proud member and judge of the Paris Spelling Bee at the American Library. In addition to getting her M2 at the Université de Strasbourg in “Technical Communication and Localization” (TCLoc), she is in the final throes of her college counseling certification through UCLA. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Unexpected Endings with B.J. Novak
2025-06-25 19:30 - 20:30
Join writer, actor, and comedian B.J. Novak for a special reading from his celebrated collection One More Thing– and maybe some new stories! Best known for his work on The Office, Novak shares sharp, funny, and offbeat stories in an evening designed for young writers and anyone who loves unpredictable fiction.
About the speaker:
B.J. Novak is a writer, actor, director and comedian well known for his work on the popular television series “The Office,” in which he starred as Ryan Howard, “the temp,” and served as Executive Producer and a writer of several of its most memorable episodes. As an actor, he is also known for his roles in films such as Inglorious Basterds, The Founder, and his 2022 screenwriting and directorial debut, Vengeance. As a writer, he is also the author of the acclaimed collection One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories and the children’s blockbuster The Book With No Pictures, which has sold over two million copies in 26 languages worldwide. Important information: This event will be in-person only.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

Teen Night: The 13th Annual Literary Reaping (ages 12–18)
2025-06-27 19:00 - 21:00
During this evening event dedicated to fun, games, and trivia, you’ll be placed in teams to answer trivia questions, and complete challenges based on young adult literature—both classic and contemporary. In the past, participants were asked to shoot an arrow as straight as Katniss, prove a knowledge of the gods that rivals Percy and Magnus, identify the villains in the room, and decide on the perfect spell faster than a magical maji. Wands, arrows, and other supplies will be provided. All participating teens will win a brand new book to take home and keep.
This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads with the help of local authors and writers serving as Gamemakers for the evening.
Pizza and drinks will be provided by the Library.
May the odds be ever in your favor…
*Please note the late end time for this event. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Write Against the Machine: Making the Most of AI Tools with Amber Auer (ages 12–18)
2025-06-28 15:00 - 16:30
Explore how AI tools can support your creative writing without replacing your unique voice. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll write a short piece, use AI to edit or expand it, then critique the results to uncover stylistic flaws, bias, or hallucinations. Learn how to collaborate with AI ethically while staying true to your own story.
Library volunteerAmber Auer will host this creative writing workshop.
Light snacks and drinks will be provided.
About Amber Auer: Amber Auer is a Pennsylvania native with over a decade of experience leading English and American studies workshops in Germany and France. She specializes in American literary and cultural education and is dedicated to making learning accessible, inclusive, and engaging for young people. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Word Games (ages 12–18)
2025-07-12 13:30 - 15:00
Play rhyming games, spelling games, and more as you meet other word wizards! Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Claire Delarue will host this event with the help of Library volunteers. They will walk you through the rules of the games.
Cold drinks and light snacks will be provided by the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Fear-y Tales: A Writing Workshop with Noah Weisz (ages 12–18)
2025-07-19 14:00 - 16:00
Cannibalistic witches, iron shoes that burn your feet, wolves in Grandma’s nightgown…Fairy tales might seem like innocent stories for children, but they’re anything but. What do fairy tales tap into that makes them so scary? How do contemporary writers of fantasy and even horror make use of the same techniques? And how can you apply these techniques yourself to make your own creative writing thrill and frighten readers in the deepest and most dazzling ways? Find out in this hands-on workshop led by Noah Weisz. You’ll never see fairy tales the same way again!
Light snacks and drinks will be provided.
About Noah Weisz: Noah Weisz is a fiction writer and educator with an MFA in Creative Writing and over a decade of experience helping students of all ages unleash the stories they have inside. Noah‘s own writing for children and young adults has been widely published in literary magazines and has won the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award, the A. Orr Fantasy Award, and the Katherine Paterson Prize for middle-grade fiction, among other honors. He is also a three-time finalist for the Bath Children’s Novel Award. Most recently, he has taught undergraduate creative writing workshops at Sciences Po and CEA CAPA; he also teaches creative writing at several middle schools around Paris, to adults through WICE, and to private students of all skill levels. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Paper Circuits: A Coding Workshop (ages 12–18)
2025-08-09 13:00 - 15:00
In this workshop participants learn about electrical circuits, and then use simple conductive materials and electronics components and paper to explore paper’s structural qualities to make cards, books, or sculptures that come to life.
Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads will host this creative workshop.
All supplies will be provided by the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Quiet Reading Party (all ages)
2025-08-23 13:30 - 15:00
Bring a book of your choice in any language or format, and read with us, then stick around to chat with other Library members.
How the Quiet Reading Party works:

Check in at the Children’s and Teens’ Services desk.
Find a comfortable spot to read.
Select a Library book or open up a book you’ve brought along, and settle in to quietly read for 45 minutes
Meet in the Children’s Library to join in conversation for 45 minutes with other book lovers and library attendees.

You may read books in any language, format, or genre for this event. Bring headphones or noise cancelling headphones if you wish.
This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads with the help of Library volunteers. The activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. All participants must be able to understand and speak English in order to participate in the program. Children between the ages 6–12 may participate in Library programs on their own, while their chaperone remains inside the Library.

Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Summer Soundtracks (ages 12–18)
2025-08-30 13:00 - 14:30
Learn what songs inspired some of your favorite books, and what books inspired your favorite songs, then make a soundtrack for your favorite read or for your summer vacation! Together, we’ll discuss what makes a good soundtrack and how to match music to plot points and characters, then we’ll create our summer soundtracks in groups and individually.
Cold drinks and light snacks will be provided by the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Capture the Flag (ages 12–18)
2025-09-12 19:00 - 21:00
Join us for a game of capture the flag on the Champ de Mars (weather permitting). We’ll meet at the Library to divide into teams and go over the rules of the game, then we’ll set out as a group to the Champ de Mars to play the game outdoors. We’ll be playing in two teams. Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads, and volunteer Clarence Tokley will each lead a team.
In the case of light rain, we’ll go ahead and play. In the event of heavy rain or storms, we’ll move the event inside. You are welcome to call the Children’s and Teens’ Services Desk directly for an update before the event. Parents/guardians can pick up participating teens at the Library at 21h00 Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Family Concert with Lauren Libaw and Dan Schlosberg (all ages) (POSTPONED)
2025-09-20 14:00 - 15:00
Enjoy classical, musical theater, and movie tunes sung by Italian-American soprano Lauren Libaw, who will be accompanied by pianist Schlosberg. Sing along with Lauren and Dan after learning about different styles of singing. The artists will take questions from the audience at the end of the program about the styles of music, their training, and more.
About the performers: Italian-American soprano Lauren Libaw has been praised for her sparkling, “bright-toned” voice (New York Times) as well as her “warmth of tone and intensity of expression” (The New Yorker). She sings internationally in recital, opera, and concert at venues including the Opéra Royal de Versailles, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Palais de Beaux Arts de Bruxelles, and Royal Albert Hall Elgar Room. A “masterful and affecting” recitalist (operawire.com), Lauren has been heard in song in Aix-en-Provence, Brussels, Florence, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and San Francisco. She does not limit herself to any one style on the recital stage, often programming music from the Great American Songbook, contemporary Broadway, French chanson, and Yiddish theater traditions alongside classical repertoire. Recent and upcoming operatic roles include Rose de Mai (Le Val d’Andorre), Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore), Cendrillon (Cendrillon), Nannetta (Falstaff), Norina (Don Pasquale) and Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi); musical theater roles include Maria (West Side Story), Eliza (My Fair Lady), Julie (Carousel), Maria (The Sound of Music), Cinderella (Into the Woods), Cosette (Les Misérables), and Christine (The Phantom of the Opera). Raised in Pasadena, California, Lauren is a graduate of Yale University, where she won the concerto and recital competitions, three academic prizes and the Sudler Prize for the Arts. She is also an alumnus of the Royal College of Music, London, and was a member of the young artist programs of the Aldeburgh Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Fondation Royaumont. She lives with her family in Paris.
Brooklyn-based composer, pianist, music director, and arranger Dan Schlosberg’s music has been performed by the Dover Quartet, Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Minnesota Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Albany Symphony, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, and Lorelei Ensemble, at Carnegie Hall, (le) poisson rouge, the Kennedy Center, Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Beijing Modern Music Festival, and David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption. Schlosberg arranged and music directed Little Island’s first full-length opera production, Anthony Roth Costanzo is The Marriage of Figaro (2024); music directed the month-long run of Justin Vivian Bond and Anthony Roth Costanzo’s Only an Octave Apart at the Dublin Fringe Festival (2023), and performed as the piano soloist with the New York Philharmonic at the show’s Lincoln Center remount (2022); in 2021, Schlosberg was the audition, rehearsal, and soundtrack pianist for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. As Heartbeat Opera’s music director, Schlosberg has garnered national acclaim for his love-in-the-time-of-climate-apocalypse opera The Extinctionist (2024), as well as re-orchestrations of opera classics. Schlosberg‘s work has been described as “mercurial”, “with the vision of a master sculptor”, “richly detailed yet delicate” and “flat-out brilliant” by the New York Times. He received his DMA in Composition from the Yale School of Music, and is currently on the composition faculty at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Children between the ages 6–12 may participate in this Library program on their own, while their chaperone remains inside the Library. Children under the age of 6 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone for the duration of the program.

Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Caregivers must remain with their children for the duration of this program. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Escape the Library (ages 12–18)
2025-09-26 19:00 - 21:00
Working in teams, participants will solve puzzles and challenges to escape the Library!
This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads with the help of Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Claire Delarue and Library volunteers.
Light snacks and drinks will be provided by the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Writing Historical Fiction with Amy Plum (ages 12–18)
2025-10-04 14:00 - 15:30
Discover the spectrum of historical fiction, from alternative history to fictional biographies. During this workshop, participants will learn essential tips for researching, world-building, and plotting their own historical fiction.
Light snacks will be provided by the Library.
About Amy Plum: Amy Plum is the author of Die for Me, an international bestselling Young Adult series set in Paris. Her books have been translated into thirteen languages. Her second series is a duology After the End and Until the Beginning, which she describes as “a faux-post-apocalyptic, road trip, adventure, romance, thriller with a bit of magic.” Her third series is the Dreamfall duology: Dreamfall and Neverwake. Amy grew up in Birmingham, Alabama before venturing further afield to Chicago, Paris, London and New York. An art historian by training, she can be found on most days either daydreaming or writing (or both) in a Parisian café. To find out more about Amy, and writing classes in Paris, visit her website.

THIS EVENT WAS ORIGINALLY SET TO TAKE PLACE ON 27 SEPTEMBER AND HAS BEEN RESCHEDULE FOR 4 OCTOBER. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Halloween Decorating Party (ages 12–18)
2025-10-10 19:00 - 21:00
Create handmade Halloween decorations for yourself or the Library, then help us decorate the Library and set the mood for Halloween. We’ll have all the supplies you need to create original festive decorations. This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads, Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Claire Delarue with the help of Library volunteers.
Light snacks and drinks will be provided by the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Scary Movies (ages 12–18)
2025-10-17 19:00 - 21:00
Vote on the horror film to you’d like to watch when you register for this event. Participate in scary movie trivia at the start of the evening, then settle in with popcorn and enjoy a screening in the Library’s comfortable reading room. We’ll discuss the film as a group at the end of the night. This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Claire Delarue.
Drinks and light snacks will be provided, as well as lots of popcorn. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Why We Love Mythology with Julia Paré and Guests (ages 8–adult)
2025-10-18 17:00 - 18:30
Why do we love old stories enough to come back to them, time and time again? Join a panel of diverse children’s authors and Social Impact Fellow Julia Paré for an interactive discussion on the power of myth, creative reworking, and folklore. Authors will share selections from their work and discuss their process and inspiration when making new books out of old stories. Julia Paré will be moderating this panel. She will be in discussion with Dr. Anne Chassagnol, a professor at Paris VIII, whose work on fairy tales examines their significance for audiences through time; Tom Pollock, author of the Skyscraper Throne trilogy, which reworked Roman notions of local divinities; Shana Targosz, whose novel The Underwild: River of Spirits is heavily inspired by Greek mythology; and Tracey Baptiste, whose Jumbies trilogy draws on Caribbean folklore.
About the moderator: Julia Paré will be moderating this panel as part of a Social Impact Fellowship through Princeton University’s partnership with the American Library. Julia Paré holds a BA in Classics from the Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College (CUNY) and an MA in Classics from the University of Arizona were she wrote a thesis analyzing Euripides’ Hecuba through the lens of trauma studies. After this brief sojourn in the desert, she returned to Brooklyn, where she taught middle school Latin before joining the Classics department at Princeton in 2021.
About Shana Targosz: Shana Targosz is the New York Times bestselling author of The Underwild: River of Spirits. She writes about magical girls, budding friendships, ghosts who may or may not be friendly, and fiercely-held hope. Shana is an Oregon Literary Arts Fellow and the 2021 recipient of the Edna L. Holmes Fellowship for Young Readers.
About Tom Pollock: Tom Pollock is the award-winning author of White Rabbit, Red Wolf, Heartstream and The Skyscraper Throne trilogy. His non-fiction has appeared in The Guardian and The Independent. He lives in London, in a flat full of books, cats and chocolate.
About Anne Chassagnol: Anne Chassagnol is a lecturer at Universite Paris-8. She is particularly interested in children’s and Young Adult literature. She is the author of La Renaissance féérique à l’époque victorienne (The Fairy Renaissance in the Victorian Age: Tales and Pictures), among other works.
About Tracey Baptiste: Tracey Baptiste is a New York Times bestselling author, best known for the creepy Caribbean Jumbies trilogy. She is also the author of Minecraft: The Crash, African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History, and the graphic nonfiction Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin: Civil Rights Heroes. She is a former elementary school teacher, curriculum designer, and editor.

This event is part of the ‘Ways of Seeing’ series, which explores how literature and visual art inspire each other, and invites audiences to uncover connections between different perspectives and media. Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. The activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. All participants must be able to understand and speak English in order to participate in the program. Children between the ages 6–12 may participate in Library programs on their own, while their chaperone remains inside the Library. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Trick-or-treating (all ages) (open to the public)
2025-10-25 10:00 - 19:00
From 10h–19h on 25 October, the Library invites you to follow the trick-or-treating route we’ve set up, and visit nearby businesses in the 7th arrondissement.
Pick up your trick-or-treating maps at the Library on Saturday 25 October 2025 anytime between 10h00–18h00. They are free for Library members and 10€ per family for non-members. You do not need to pre-register in order to trick-or-treat.
This is a self-led activity.
How to trick-or-treat:

Put on your costume.
Find a bag for your candy.
Find your grown-up (they’ll need to be with you from now on!).
Pick up your map at The American Library in Paris.
Follow the map to the trick-or-treating spots.
At each spot, say: “Trick or treat” and take one piece of the candy.
Say: “Thank you! Happy Halloween!” before you leave.
Walk (don’t run) on the sidewalk (with your grown-up) to the next spot.
Trade the candy with friends if there’s something you don’t like.
Take your candy home to enjoy after your grown-up looks it over.

Candy Donations: The Library happily accepts donations of individually-wrapped, store-bought candy for Trick-or-Treating for this community event. If you would like to help out, please drop off your donation at the Children’s and Teens’ Services Desk at the Library any time during open hours.
Questions? Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Halloween Extravaganza: Monster Mash (ages 6+) (Ticketed Event) (Sold Out)
2025-10-25 15:00 - 16:30
This family event for Library members features a story time for families, and a live performance, as well as games and surprises throughout the Library. The event will culminate in a costume showcase for children and their chaperones with costume prizes awarded in several categories for children, and a special prize for parents.
This event will include a live musical performance from Jessica Moore and Thibault Hidalgoa, as well as a spooky performance by members of the improvisational theater company The Improfessionals. The group perform has performed more that 150 shows in Paris and around the world. Their new improvised musical comedy is showing now in Paris, with performances in English.
Costume prizes will be awarded in the following categories. The costume judges are always especially impressed by homemade costumes, and creative ensembles:

Funny
Literary
Scary
Classic Halloween
Animal
Pretty
Creative
Superhero
Parent
Duo/Group costume

Light refreshments will be provided by the Library.
On 25 October, we encourage you to follow the trick-or-treating route we’ve set up, and visit nearby businesses in the 7th arrondissement. Important information!
TICKETS REQUIRED: Tickets must be purchased in advance for this event. Library Members may purchase tickets online on this page beginning on Wednesday 1 October at 11h00: 15€ per person. Library members may purchase up to 6 tickets (household members) or 2 tickets (juvenile members). If tickets remain on 15 October, they will then be available for non-members. Each person attending this event must have a valid ticket (except babies under one). All reservations are final and tickets are non-refundable.
Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.
Sign-up for the Library’s e-newsletter for more information about events such as this one.

Halloween Extravaganza: The Haunted Library (ages 8+) (Sold Out)
2025-10-25 18:30 - 20:30
In the evening on Saturday 25 October 2025, the American Library in Paris will turn into a Haunted Library, with guided tours throughout the dark, and winding Library stacks. Grab your bravest friends, and explore the Library as you’ve never seen it before. Tours last 15-20 minutes, and must be booked in advance. Games will be available in the Library’s Reading Room before and after tours.
All Haunted Library guests are invited to join the finale, from 20h00-20h30, which will include a spooky performance by members of the improvisational theater company The Improfessionals. The group has performed more that 150 shows in Paris and around the world. Their new improvised musical comedy is showing now in Paris, with performances in English. The Haunted Library will culminate in a costume contest. First, second, and third prize costume prizes will be awarded. The costume judges are always especially impressed by homemade costumes, and creative ensembles.
Light refreshments will be provided by the Library.
This event is intended to offer surprises and scares for older children, teens, and adults. If your child is easily frightened, please consider purchasing tickets for the Halloween Extravaganza Monster Mash at 15h00. You may be interested in trick-or-treating (no registration required: details here). Important information!
TICKETS REQUIRED: Tickets must be purchased in advance for this event. Library Members may purchase tickets online on this page beginning on Wednesday 1 October at 11h00: 15€ per person. Library members may purchase up to 6 tickets (household members) or 2 tickets (juvenile members). If tickets remain on 15 October, they will then be available for non-members. Each person attending this event must have a valid ticket. All reservations are final and tickets are non-refundable. All children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.
Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.
Sign-up for the Library’s e-newsletter for more information about events such as this one.

Teen Night: Mix and Match Comic Strips (ages 12–18)
2025-11-07 19:00 - 21:00
Learn about the language of comics and comic strips, then make your own. We’ll have all the supplies you need to create your own original comics. This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Claire Delarue and Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads, with the help of Library volunteers.
Light snacks and drinks will be provided by the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.
